I wish this were further up in this mess. Also, the accused is often treated as though they were guilty off the bat. We have a legal process for the purpose of figuring that out later.

They can't just let a potentially dangerous person caught or accused of a serious crime just walk off with some paperwork saying they will show up for court. It sucks, but I don't see a way around it.

And I have been on the business end of both situations. Caught doing shit I was guilty as hell of, and then actually very recently got picked up on foot, walking away from my house but really right out front, and arrested for a DUI. I was looking for my wife and extremely worried and had keys in my pocket to a car, which were also house keys.

Now I didn't like being arrested. But I understood their reasoning. I was intoxicated and looking for someone and had keys, it wasn't gonna be long before I decided walking took too long.

Then I faced a very real presumption of guilt from everyone.

I had to go to court and plead not guilty and the judge, DA, and public council were pissed. They have suspended my driver's license. They really wanted to put me on informal probation and pay for that, a treatment program, and random drug testing...while waiting for trial.

Being accused of something is serious business. Once someone starts that process it can't be stopped. There should be some respectful questioning of the person making the complaint.

I should mention in my case I was absolutely in the right and did not cooperate with the police in any way for the dui they wanted, and it made them angry and led to them being massive dicks. I refused a field sobriety test, refused the breathylyzer, and made them draw blood. But in every legal way I complied. I just wasn't driving, so I did not submit to the procedure they use to gather evidence for that offense.

It was the best decision I ever made too. But right now, I'm treated like I am guilty and really hope the legal system actually kinda works.